We noted Monday morning that there were reports Sparano would be let go at the end of the season. It appears that timeline was ramped up, and it's entirely possible that owner Stephen Ross didn't want to fall too far behind other teams in searching for a new head coach.

Sparano, speaking to the media on Monday morning, would not address his job security.

"No, I want to coach against the Buffalo Bills this week," Sparano said. "I'm going to get ready to coach the Buffalo Bills. That’s my sole focus. Can’t wait to get my team back here and Wednesday and get ready to go."

According to Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network, secondary coach (and Assistant Head Coach) Todd Bowles will take over as interim head coach for the next three weeks in Miami.

And there's an additional twist to the Miami situation emerging, as Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that former Chiefs president Carl Peterson will take over the role of "czar" in the front office, which has been vacant since Bill Parcells departure from Miami. (Peterson has been/is business partners with Ross and is believed to be a link to hiring Bill Cowher in Miami.)

But Peterson tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that ESPN's report of him joining the Dolphins is "inaccurate."

Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

Nothing wrong with firing a NFL coach now. If your going to fire a coach, do it when you decide it's time. That way they can begin talks with potential coaches that are not under contract. Like potential hires in Gruden, Cowher, Dungy etc. With two other jobs already opened in Jacksonville and KC, might as well get they job search going, if in fact those previous names even have any interest. The NFL is a cutthroat business, might as well get your knive out when its at its sharpest.

Since: Nov 29, 2011

Posted on: December 12, 2011 4:16 pm

Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

It's about time!!! This should have happened before the season started. The whole Harbaugh debacle should have forced the issue. But better late than never. I don't trust Stephen Ross' "leadership" moving forward. I'm hoping he stumbles across the right coach and makes a good hire, but I fear it will be luck if that happens.

Joe Twitter:

Since: Mar 28, 2008

Posted on: December 12, 2011 4:15 pm

Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

dolphin front office is so horribly bad, they passed on drew brees not once ... but twice. Once to draft Jamar Fletcher when they already had Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison, and second to sign Duante Culpepper.

For the life of me I will never figure out why some idiot in a suit gets paid six figures to do this job. A simple poll of the fans would have landed better draft classes than these idiots ever could.

Fire the whole front office and pay for direct tv and listen to mel kiper. it will be way cheaper and only wrong half the time.

Since: Aug 11, 2010

Posted on: December 12, 2011 4:08 pm

Report: Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

This is kind of a tough deal. How can you expect a guy to win w/ Matt Moore as his QB? I think he did all he could w/ the talent at his disposal. I watched yesterday, and after Jake Long got hurt it was all over. The replacement LT was a turnstile. But, the team appeared to be playing hard and trying to make plays. They were just overmatched. But so is the business in the NFL. I'm sure he'll turn up w/ a job on someone's staff.

Since: Feb 23, 2010

Posted on: December 12, 2011 4:04 pm

Report: Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

Ireland should of been dumped too. The Dolphins and Stephen Ross is a big joke in South Beach.

Since: Oct 9, 2006

Posted on: December 12, 2011 4:03 pm

Report: Tony Sparano fired by Dolphins Monday

Probably should have happened awhile ago, but not sure I understand doing it 3 weeks before the season ends.